**What is the Use of Acid & Base?**
Verified**Explanation:**
Acids and bases are incredibly useful substances that we encounter in our daily lives and various industries. Let's explore their three major applications that make them essential in our modern world.
Neutralisation is one of the most important chemical reactions involving acids and bases. When an acid and a base react together, they neutralize each other's properties and form salt and water. This process is extremely useful in various situations. For instance, when someone suffers from acidity or heartburn, antacids containing bases like magnesium hydroxide help neutralize the excess acid in the stomach. Similarly, farmers use lime (calcium hydroxide) to neutralize acidic soil, making it suitable for crop growth.
The second major use is in manufacturing fertilizers, which is crucial for modern agriculture. Acids like sulfuric acid and nitric acid play vital roles in producing fertilizers that help plants grow better. Sulfuric acid is used to make phosphate fertilizers by treating phosphate rock, while nitric acid is essential for creating nitrogen-based fertilizers like ammonium nitrate. These fertilizers provide essential nutrients to plants, helping increase crop yields and feeding millions of people worldwide. Without acids in fertilizer production, modern agriculture would struggle to meet global food demands.
The third significant application is cleaning, where both acids and bases serve different purposes. Acids are excellent for removing mineral deposits, rust, and scale buildup. For example, hydrochloric acid is used in toilet bowl cleaners to remove tough stains and mineral deposits. Citric acid, found naturally in lemons, is used in many household cleaners for removing soap scum and water spots. On the other hand, bases like sodium hydroxide (found in drain cleaners) are powerful degreasers that can break down organic matter and clear blocked pipes. Many laundry detergents also contain basic substances that help remove grease and oil stains from clothes.
These three uses demonstrate how acids and bases are not just laboratory chemicals but essential components of our everyday lives. From maintaining our health through neutralization reactions to ensuring food security through fertilizer production and keeping our surroundings clean, acids and bases continue to play indispensable roles in making our lives better and more comfortable.
